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Power-washing your home is not limited to stripping the paint from wood for a new paint job. In fact, pressure washing is a practical way to remove years of dirt, mildew and algae from your siding for a fresh appearance. The plants that surround your home's foundation, however, are directly underneath the power-washing application site. Although power-wash chemicals are manufactured to be safe for both animal and plant life, it is possible for them to kill plants.

Bleach Solutions

Power washing typically uses a bleach solution to remove microorganisms, like molds and mildew. Commonly diluted to a 3:1 water-to-bleach ratio, this runoff into your garden eventually transforms into salts as the bleach breaks down. High salinity in the garden contributes to plant death since water absorption becomes difficult for the struggling plants. One way to avoid bleach damage is watering the plants prior to power washing. As the runoff moves across the foliage, the bleach becomes even more diluted and does not affect the plants as much. A good garden watering after the power washing allows you to rinse any remaining bleach residues away to preserve the plant and soil environment.

Detergents

If your home is simply power-washed with detergents, these biodegradable chemicals are often diluted to a 10:1 water-to-detergent ratio. Although watered down, detergents contribute to brown spotting on certain plants if allowed to remain on foliage. Using the watering technique for bleach solutions, your plants can still remain healthy, but you must be thorough with your rinsing for the best results -- even a small amount of detergent left in the garden contributes to plant death.

Prevention

Removing plants from the immediate area is the best way to preserve your garden, but not all plants are potted and easily transported. Alternatively, cover your outdoor garden with plastic to prevent chemical overspray and runoff. But do not cover all of your plants at once. Power washing takes time to complete, especially if the home is large. For example, cover plants on the north side of your home and uncover them once the power washing moves to the south side of the home. Covering the plants all day deprives them of air exchange and contributes to heat stress.

Sealant Consideration

If you have natural wood siding, it typically requires a sealant after the power washing to preserve the natural grain. Sealants are more harmful to plants than power-wash chemicals since they are not diluted. You must cover your plants and secure them from any contact with the sealant. Generally, you cannot wash sealants off of foliage and plants ultimately die.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities.